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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 1 Hansard (20 February) . . Page.. 287 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

The planning for community facility sites takes into account the suitability of the site for community uses in terms of the location guidelines for community and recreation facilities. Current long-term planning for community facilities aims to ensure that sites are close to public transport routes, compatible with surrounding uses and, where appropriate, co-located with other community facilities and local centres to facilitate a mix of uses and improved accessibility.

If sites are required in the future in the Narrabundah/Griffith area, the assessment has concluded that there is a number of other more suitable community facility sites, in terms of both size and location, that could meet any anticipated need.

Blocks 14 and 15 and not considered suitable community facility sites due to their small size and relationship to surrounding development. The preliminary assessment that was undertaken prior to the draft variation being initiated concluded that the sites are unlikely to be used for community use. This was, as I already stated, because they are relatively isolated from other community facility sites (650 metres from the local shopping centre) and consist of two narrow blocks that would be difficult to develop for community use.

The last time one of the blocks was used for community purposes was in the early 1990s. Following the surrender of the lease, the structure on the site was deemed to be unsafe and unsuitable for use, and was demolished in 1994. In the context of the club being redeveloped for residential use and the limited need for this site for community uses, it was considered appropriate for these blocks also to be proposed for residential development.

Community needs assessments are prepared for the ACT at the broad-scale level as part of the urban development program. No community need for this site has been identified through this process. There are other vacant blocks in Narrabundah identified in the 1990-2000 audit of community facilities land. A recent update of that audit indicates that there are four substantial blocks of land with a community facility land use policy that could accommodate future community uses if required.

Currently Narrabundah has a range of community facilities available, including community group accommodation, ovals, outdoor recreation, community halls, child care, welfare services, primary schools, a college, places of worship, older persons units, a nursing home and hostel, a non-profit retail store and more.

Narrabundah has three other licensed clubs-namely, the Capital Golf Club, the Spanish-Australian Club and the Harmonie German Club. Also, conditional development approval has been given to a new golfing facility which includes provision for a licensed club on recently leased land on section 34 Narrabundah. In Griffith there are three other clubs and one social club.

In addition, relevant planning guidelines such as the ACT crime prevention and urban design resource manual need to be taken into account. Among other things, these aim to ensure that public space is under active surveillance, that potential entrapment areas are avoided and that the design of housing provides sight lines to footpaths and clearly delineates between public and private open space.

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